Clement Valla collects Google Earth images. He has discovered strange moments where the illusion of a seamless representation of the Earth’s surface seems to break down. Initially, it was thought that these were glitches or errors in the algorithm, but upon closer examination, it became apparent that the situation was actually more intriguing – these images are not glitches. They are the absolute logical result of the system. They represent an edge condition, an anomaly within the system, a nonstandard, an outlier, even, but not an error. These disconcerting moments shed light on the inner workings of Google Earth, directing our attention towards the software. They unveil a novel model of representation: one that does not rely on indexical photographs but instead utilizes automated data collection from numerous diverse sources that are constantly updated and endlessly combined to create a seamless illusion. In essence, Google Earth is a database masquerading as a photographic representation. These eerie images shift our focus towards the process itself, as well as the intricate network of algorithms, computers, storage systems, automated cameras, maps, pilots, engineers, photographers, surveyors, and map-makers that contribute to their creation.
Clement Valla is a New York based artist whose work considers how humans and computers are increasingly entangled in making, seeing and reading pictures.
He has had recent solo exhibitions at PC Galleries in Providence, XPO Gallery in Paris and Transfer Gallery in Brooklyn. His work has also been exhibited at various galleries and museums across the globe.
Valla received a BA in Architecture from Columbia University and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in Digital+Media. He is currently an associate professor at the Rhode Island School of Design.
(Descriptive texts by Clement Valla, slightly modified by ESERO Austria)
